Louisville Lacrosse Names a Trio as 2013 Team Captains

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the 2013 campaign, University of Louisville has tabbed Katie Oliverio, Monica Negron and Janaye Dzikewich as captains for the second-straight season.

"Elected by their peers, Janaye, Katie and Monica have shown their leadership throughout the fall," head coach Kellie Young said. "They have taken control of the squad, united this team and created a culture that will assure success for years to come."

Oliverio, now a redshirt senior, did not play in 2012 after tearing the ACL in her right knee before the season started. The Silver Spring, Md., native has been a staple of the Cardinals' offense, accounting for 94 assists and 146 points through three seasons of play. In 2011, she started 16 of the 17 games she played in, scoring 47 goals and dishing out 43 assists. Oliverio earned second team all-Big East and IWLCA all-West/Midwest Region honors in 2011. In 2010, she was crowned the NCAA Division I statistical champion in assists per game (2.71) and finished second nationally in assists.

A junior, Negron picked up where she left off in her freshman campaign. In 2011, she earned second team IWLCA all-region honors after ranking 16th nationally in caused turnovers per game (1.8) and 34th in ground balls per game (2.4). She had at least one caused turnover in 14 of 15 games played and recorded at least two ground balls in 13 contests. A Bel Air, Md., native, Negron became the first freshman in program history to earn IWLCA all-Region honors, being named to the second team in 2010.

Dzikewich, now a graduate student, started all 15 games on defense last season. She finished second on the team in caused turnovers (21) and ground balls (35). She had five games with at least three ground balls and six with at least two caused turnovers. The Whitby, Ontario, native battled back after missing a majority of the 2011 season with an injury. In 2009, she played in all 17 games, caused 26 turnovers was a major factor in the team's No. 2 national ranking in the category.

Louisville embarks upon its sixth season in program history starting on Feb. 10, with its home opener against Canisius. The noon match-up takes place at the UofL Lacrosse Stadium and is the first of a three-match homestand.